Summary
Schaeffer discusses religious experience inside and outside of the church that rejects reason and content and emphasizes experience and emotionalism. This is not the Christianity of the Bible.
Commercial Availability of Work
The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer (paper)
The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer (Windows CDROM)
Quotes From The Book
With the rejection of reason, without rational categories, the word Christ may mean nothing more nor different than the word Krishna.
(Francis A. Schaeffer, The New Super-Spirituality, Ch. 3)
We know that Christian truth is true, and we know something of the beauty that it can produce. We know that there is freedom within the absolutes of Scripture and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Christianity is not to be confused with contemporary social norms nor merely a set of legal taboos. We know that middle-class norms are not equal with biblical absolutes. Suddenly the freedom to be human and to be what we really are as made in Godís image was recognized.
(Francis A. Schaeffer, The New Super-Spirituality, Ch. 4)
One can also see a parallel between some of the new Pentecostals and the liberals. The liberal theologians don't believe in content or religious truth. They are really existentialists using theological, Christian terminology. Consequently, not believing in truth, they can enter into fellowship with any other experience-oriented group using religious language.
(Francis A. Schaeffer, The New Super-Spirituality, Ch. 5)
As we look at the people caught up in the new Pentecostalism, we certainly cannot say that many of them are not Christians. I am completely sure that many of them are, but we are impressed with the fact that many have very little content to their faith; everything is experience -- emotion (or emotionalism) is the base.
We must, of course, be careful here, because we are not saying that there shouldnít be any experience or emotion. There is and there should be. But neither experience nor emotion is the basis for our faith. The basis for our faith is that certain things are true. The whole man, including the intellect, is to act upon the fact that certain things are true. That, of course, will lead to an experiential relationship with God; but the basis is content, not experience. This is certainly the approach taken by Paul, Isaiah and other prophets, as well as the Lord Jesus Himself. It is this way throughout the whole of Scripture.
(Francis A. Schaeffer, The New Super-Spirituality, Ch. 5)
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